BUDGET $0M
NASA MISSION DESIGN CHALLENGE · 2026

Build a mission.
Beat the physics.

You have one rocket, one budget, and a world that is always moving. Design the spacecraft, choose the launch vehicle, balance power and mass, then fly the trajectory yourself.

10Missions
22Parts
3DAssembly + Flight
2DTrajectory Map
STEP 01 · SELECT DESTINATION

Mission Control

Choose a world, then pick a mission. Gravity, atmosphere, and comms range change with every destination.

EARTH · 3 MISSIONS AVAILABLE
FLIGHT SCHOOL

From blank bay to orbit in six moves

01Pick a destination

Choose a planet, then a mission. Orbit, instruments, comms, and budget define your constraints.

02Open the parts crate

Drag any part into the 3D bay. Hitboxes stop parts from overlapping.

03Balance the design

Mass, thrust, power, comms, science, and cost all push against each other.

04Double-tap to detach

Drag an attached part to the scrap bin for a 20% refund.

05Fly the mission

Use the guidance computer or take manual control through the atmosphere.

06Read the report

See how gravity, rotation, atmosphere, and every trade-off shaped the result.

THE REAL WORLD IS THE BOSS

Three forces you cannot ignore

g
Gravity

Pulls harder the lower you fly. It steals delta-v on ascent and accelerates your return.

≈
Atmosphere

Drag steals speed near the ground, then heats and slows your capsule on reentry.

↻
Earth's rotation

Gives an eastward launch assist — and moves the landing zone under your spacecraft.

NASA MISSION LAB · A playable mission-design challenge Game-scale physics · Built for explorers
ACTIVE MISSION

SKY SENTINEL

400 km climate orbit · camera + spectrometer · ≥250 comms

SCRAP+20% BACK
↖ DRAG FROM THE PARTS CRATE INTO THE 3D BAY
DRAG THE VIEW TO STEER · USE THE BUTTONS FOR THROTTLE & ROLL
LIVE FLIGHT · PRE-LAUNCH

SKY SENTINEL

MISSION DAY00
METT+ 00:00:00
WARP4×
ALTITUDE0.0km
VELOCITY0m/s
VERTICAL0m/s
DOWNRANGE0km
FUEL100%
THROTTLE100%
APOGEE—
PERIGEE—
ECCENTRICITY—
ENVIRONMENT
GRAVITY9.81m/s²
ATM. DENSITY1.225kg/m³
ROTATION ASSIST408m/s
HEAT LOAD0%
Atmosphere is thick at the pad. Gravity is pulling you down.
2D TRAJECTORY

Ground track & altitude

TrajectoryTarget orbitEarth
GUIDANCE COMPUTER

Autopilot will fly a gravity turn and circularize at the target orbit. Take control any time.

THROTTLE 100%
PITCH0°
TIME WARP
Mission rocket
3
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER · FLIGHT DIRECTOR GO

LAUNCH SEQUENCE

Ignition in 3 seconds. All systems nominal.

MISSION MILESTONE

ORBIT ACHIEVED

APOGEE400 km
PERIGEE398 km
MISSION DAY01

Your spacecraft is in a stable orbit. Run the science campaign, then bring the capsule home — or leave it in orbit.

REENTRY · ATMOSPHERE ACTIVE

Bring the capsule home

Drag is building. Deploy the parachute below 15 km for a soft touchdown.

ALTITUDE120 km
DESCENT0 m/s
DRIFT0 km
MISSION MAP

2D trajectory view

Earth rotation, atmosphere, and gravity are live.
MISSION REPORT · 2026

MISSION SUCCESS

Sky Sentinel delivered a climate observatory to low Earth orbit.

0/ 100
★★★
MISSION OUTCOMES

Objectives

FLIGHT DATA

What the mission cost

2D TRAJECTORY RECORD

Ascent & descent

TrajectoryTarget orbitEarth